Autocross Assault: Watch Danny Popp’s 1972 Corvette Stingray Hustle

A 30-year family affair, Danny Popp’s Stingray is a seriously fast machine.

Danny Popp’s 1972 Corvette Stingray is a purpose-built road racing tool. As a kid, Popp watched his father race this exact Stingray race SCCA and NCCC events. In fact, they campaigned this car all the way until 2002, where it had been fighting off C4 and C5 Corvettes for many years. While it may look like a modern LS-powered Pro Touring build on the outset, this Stingray is really more old school than you’d think.

In fact, the stock frame is untouched, but years of development have distilled the suspension package into a cohesive and adaptable system. Van Steel upper and lower tubular control arm, inverted JRi double-adjustable shocks, Hypercoil 800-lb/in springs, Borgeson steering box, and Rancho sway bays keep this Stingray glued to the course. Well, and the massive 315mm front, 335mm rear rubbers.

Under the hood is an all-iron, 355ci small-block Chevy that produced a conservative 420 hp, and 460 lb-ft, according to Popp.